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OK

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Oh oh. Oh oh oh

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oh oh. Oh. Oh oh yes you.

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Know you.

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Would not want to which I
don't care about OK. OK. OK

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OK. Well what would you do.

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Your research well what are
your thoughts absolutely OK.

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If you.

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Say yes.

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You. Know you. You.

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Get.

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This the movie.

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OK I'm. OK. Oh.

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Oh oh oh.

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Oh.

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So.

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You have. Good evening
everyone and welcome to the.

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Meeting of the city commission.
I do want to go over

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a couple of things before we start and that
is some of our expected procedures. We

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do have public comment tonight
of course on one of our pubs and

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a public hearing and also there is public
comment time I would like you to be

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mindful of the fact that although you do
have 3 minutes to speak sometimes people

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use up their 3 minutes while others are
waiting who might be new to this so please

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be mindful of them if people already said
what you've said try to shorten your

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remarks in order to allow those who are
maybe not quite as familiar with getting up

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and doing public speaking to do so we also
ask that we are very respectful of those

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who are speaking even if you don't agree
with what they have to say we don't allow

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clappy in that sort of thing so we want to
be very clear that everybody has allowed

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to have their their time to speak and we
welcome that. OK So we'd like to start

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with

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a moment of silence pledge with
the Pledge of Allegiance. In

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the. United States of America and
United our world which is there is one

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ration. Erasable where the
word of the year for all.

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So to Roll Call. Commissioner
moody rose to Mr

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Jones here Michelle Connor who is surely
near president Kelly president and

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colleagues I'd like

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a motion to excuse commissioner Reppert and
Mayor bliss some or. All those in favor

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of the same sign Thank you OK right now we
go to public comments on agenda items so

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these are issues that we will be voting
on tonight that are on our agenda so you

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have an opportunity to make
comments on those we do have

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a public hearing coming up later and so
this is only for agenda items not for the

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public here and so there's anyone who
likes speak please come forward now. Good

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evening I'm Dr be nice to be Chandler
executive director of Family Outreach Center

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I hope I'm speaking at the right time
because my comments are in relationship to

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the commission meeting earlier today this
morning all right good I didn't know if I

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needed to wait to the public hearing part
at the end but my comments are directed

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to the presentation that was made back
here of violence this morning and I was

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pleased to be able to be here to hear
their presentation and just have

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a few observations and comments about the
I think we all would agree that violence

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is

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a public health concern because it affects
everybody but I think we also would agree

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that violence is

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a community health concern because
it impacts certain individuals and

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families in subsets of the
community in very significant ways

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so I'm just happy to be able to speak to
you tonight regarding that and the fact

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that. Your bias is

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a good program you know with the goal of
interrupting violence somebody told me and

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I read somewhere that violence
is the result often when

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people don't know what to do with
or how to handle their pain. So my

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hope is that while we're considering
what to do next in the community that we

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don't forget the importance of affective
clinical treatment services and

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support services in order to
help people to deal with their

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pain that often is evidence
through violent activity one of

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the things that I'm very very pleased
about is that family out. Reed center is

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a partner with the city of Grand Rapids
this is our 4th year in working with you in

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our seeking safety program for African-American
young men ages 14 to 24 who have

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either been the victims of violence
or are engaged or previously

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engaged if you will in violent
activity and we've done

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a lot of work with these young men in I'm
happy to share with you that we've served

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over 350 young men and our
services thus far over 300

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have actually participated
in group services about

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a 3rd of them are continuing in
services in various aspects and

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a significant percentage of those individuals
have. Engaged in treatment services

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and also are participating
in peer support services of

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a variety of kinds and I'd also like to
take this opportunity because I haven't had

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a chance to speak to the Commission to thank
you for the recent funding. Your time

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is. Thank you for the opportunity and thank
you for your service to Family Outreach

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Center we appreciate that. Mr MILLER.

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Well as the House of people watchdog role
in reporting welcome fellow veterans and

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considerations of Grand Rapids just keep
me under 7 public documents the name

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of the document is Jeff dodging groper Joe
Biden in print seasonal confusion lots

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of Joes around town and that's from what
started. Pecan and I keep track of the

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stuff process so that's an official the
your 3 page letter Madam President is just

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feel personally and anyway
the rapid So it's more of

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a personal autos love Fishel Pylea right
and Mr Miller what item is it could you

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explain which I'm sure we weren't silent
7 documents down signing documents.

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So you see

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a 3 page out of there yellow the Yes OK
That's for you personally right but that in

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that is you know about that now i Q i just
want explain that it doesn't come under

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7 cells I would want to create any so
any confusion Thank you ever so much

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00:13:58,52 --> 00:14:04,45
tremendous problems Thank you Mr Miller
OK That brings us to approval of minutes

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may have

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a lot. So will support any further
comments colleagues and all those in favor

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of same site and now we are to provide
for the petitions of communications.

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The 1st one as

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00:14:24,05 --> 00:14:28,51
a communication received from doing here
regarding the bicycle action plan received

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00:14:28,52 --> 00:14:32,49
in filed communication from Christine
Omega regarding the resignation from the

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00:14:32,50 --> 00:14:36,53
stormwater over say commission referred
to the committee an appointment security

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00:14:36,54 --> 00:14:37,17
from Brenda F.

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00:14:37,18 --> 00:14:40,46
More Michigan Municipal League president
regarding upcoming meeting information

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00:14:40,58 --> 00:14:44,56
received and filed communication received
from Karen Harshman regarding the Grand

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00:14:44,57 --> 00:14:48,51
Rapids Police Department received in filed
communication received from empower the

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00:14:48,52 --> 00:14:52,61
citizens regarding the election task
force received and filed communication

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00:14:52,62 --> 00:14:56,06
receiver mailing Chiodos expressing support
for the growing up as park military

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knew all received and filed communication
receive from the greater Grand Rapids

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00:14:59,65 --> 00:15:03,91
Bicycle Coalition expressing support for
the proposed bicycle action plan received

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00:15:03,92 --> 00:15:07,75
in filed communication received from the
West Grand neighborhood us organization

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00:15:07,76 --> 00:15:11,74
word of directors expressing support for
the military nor for going up as parks

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00:15:11,96 --> 00:15:14,99
received and filed and communication
received from West Korean neighborhood

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00:15:15,00 --> 00:15:19,16
organization board of directors expressing
support for ballot initiatives to

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increase wards in the city of Grand Rapids
and that is received and filed thank you

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00:15:23,86 --> 00:15:28,54
that brings us to reports of our city
officers we start with controllers free to

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00:15:28,66 --> 00:15:33,20
report for the 1st of those contrails
report for the period of June 27th 2019

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00:15:33,47 --> 00:15:39,92
through July 10th 2019 in the amount
of 20000000 155624 dollars and 7

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00:15:39,93 --> 00:15:44,69
cents received and filed in the Treasurer's
or par for the period of June 22 2019

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00:15:44,92 --> 00:15:51,07
through July July 8th 2019 received and
filed so this brings us to our consent

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00:15:51,08 --> 00:15:54,87
agenda and reports of our standing
committees these are items that we discussed

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this morning a committee of
the whole and when there is

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a unanimous vote then they go to
the evening meeting where we have

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00:16:01,16 --> 00:16:04,42
a question on committee appointments
to those that are on there was very

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00:16:04,90 --> 00:16:11,07
a postponement. A number 3. Yes there
like that wasn't this there was.

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00:16:13,22 --> 00:16:18,57
No this that's postponed till next
week so some tell that end up that.

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00:16:21,10 --> 00:16:25,83
So the concert everything except for number
3 I remember the real DAVID Yes correct

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00:16:25,83 --> 00:16:32,53
. OK So then we. With one voice

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felt. I would favor

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00:16:36,41 --> 00:16:41,49
a consent agenda. Of the
same sign motion carries

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00:16:43,29 --> 00:16:49,17
OK That brings us then to ordinances to
be adapted to the for the 1st one is the

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00:16:49,18 --> 00:16:53,95
ordinance amending Section one of the budget
wardens $21000.00 deaths 19 for fiscal

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00:16:53,96 --> 00:17:00,71
year 2020 amendment number one
so moved. Mr JONES Can you

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00:17:00,72 --> 00:17:05,20
explain this president there were 4 items
this morning for the budget ordinance all

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00:17:05,21 --> 00:17:07,63
4 had to do with the receipt of

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a grant funding 3 that 3 grants for our
communities children and one for the 61st

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District Court which was the. Renewal of
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health

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Services Administration the Sampson grant
that the city is the recipient of by way

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00:17:24,89 --> 00:17:31,19
of the 6 1st district court there was no
change in the contingent balance OK thank

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00:17:31,20 --> 00:17:35,81
you colleagues to have any further questions.
Seen and will move on we're going to

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00:17:35,82 --> 00:17:41,53
call out sorry. Commissioner
JONES Yes to assure we mere.

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00:17:42,67 --> 00:17:48,56
Commissioner O'CONNOR Yes Commissioner
moody yes to ensure KELLY Yes

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00:17:51,04 --> 00:17:51,74
OK Now we need

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00:17:51,75 --> 00:17:58,43
a motion for immediate effect so I support
all those in favor postings on motion

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00:17:58,44 --> 00:18:00,07
carries next one is

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00:18:00,08 --> 00:18:03,51
a consideration of zoning ordinance Texan
members regarding canopy enclosures and

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00:18:03,52 --> 00:18:07,55
gas stations that backs
some of support or. We need

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00:18:07,56 --> 00:18:14,24
a roll call vote. Well 1st Connor Jonathan
I'm going to I'm going to go to fast

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00:18:14,77 --> 00:18:18,05
to please you go ahead these proposed
and I said just intended to address

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development pressures specifically
specifically regarding the site layout of gas

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00:18:21,78 --> 00:18:25,69
station uses and seasonal enclosures of
canopies covering outdoor dining areas.

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00:18:26,80 --> 00:18:33,69
Good any further questions colleagues
on this OK see none commissioner moody

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00:18:34,22 --> 00:18:40,48
Yes Commissioner Kelly Yes Mr Jones Yes
Mr Le near Yes to assure O'CONNOR Yes

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00:18:41,11 --> 00:18:41,75
and I need

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00:18:41,76 --> 00:18:47,92
a motion for immediate effect of all those
in favor of passing side motion carries

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00:18:48,54 --> 00:18:48,99
they saw as

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00:18:49,00 --> 00:18:53,04
a resolution to consider adoption of ordinance
amending sections of articles 2 and

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5 of Chapter 7 Title one of the grown up
and city code relating to the position of

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00:18:57,15 --> 00:19:01,07
deputy fire chief in the police and fire
retirement system portion of the pension

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00:19:01,08 --> 00:19:06,86
and retirement benefits. You get about 4
commission Moody could you explain this

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00:19:06,87 --> 00:19:12,23
and thank you for your service on the pension
board Yes ma'am. The position of the

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00:19:12,24 --> 00:19:16,22
deputy fire chief was from the covered by
the fire bargaining unit due to the the

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00:19:16,23 --> 00:19:20,86
mobile phone of the position from the union
membership is necessary to clarify the

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00:19:21,52 --> 00:19:26,43
pension benefits for the position that
propose amendment to this ordinance that

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pension benefits for the position of the
deputy fire chief at the same level as

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00:19:30,64 --> 00:19:36,53
those of the other representative
representative members of the police fire and

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00:19:36,54 --> 00:19:41,58
retirement system which means that they're
on the same level as the fire chief the

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00:19:41,59 --> 00:19:45,79
police chief and the Deputy Police Chief
thank you any questions colleagues about

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00:19:45,80 --> 00:19:47,99
this OK then we need

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00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:52,89
a real cop out commissioner moody Yes
Commissioner O'CONNOR Yes Commissioner Lanier

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00:19:53,28 --> 00:19:59,48
commissioner JONES Yes Mr KELLY Yes.
Brings us to our next ordinance.

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00:20:01,95 --> 00:20:06,08
Oh so you know more or less amending
chapter one for motion picture theater of

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00:20:06,09 --> 00:20:12,19
title some of the Grand Rapids City code
to your emotions was for. Commissioner can

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00:20:12,20 --> 00:20:14,51
you explain this one yeah enjoy 918

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00:20:14,52 --> 00:20:18,38
a resolution repealing chapter wanted
to dance all that replacing it with new

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00:20:18,39 --> 00:20:22,65
chapter one or 2 in your events was approved
the attached resolution approves the

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00:20:22,66 --> 00:20:27,30
amendment chapter 4 Chapter one for
motion picture theater which will now be

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00:20:27,31 --> 00:20:33,60
covered under the indoor events ordinance.
And questions colleagues see none of our

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00:20:33,61 --> 00:20:39,38
local commissioner JONES Yes initially
near commission O'Connor S commissioner

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00:20:39,39 --> 00:20:45,64
moody yes to ensure KELLY Yes OK That
brings us to city commission resolutions

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00:20:45,65 --> 00:20:48,90
these are resolutions that will be
deliberated by the city commission but which

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00:20:48,98 --> 00:20:52,55
which come directly to the commission
rather than from one of the standing

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00:20:52,56 --> 00:20:58,84
commissions committee sleezy So we start
with the City Commission resolution

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00:20:58,85 --> 00:21:01,20
affirming the city management's
appointment of Paul

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00:21:01,21 --> 00:21:06,82
a grievance Gesta for as the city assessor
solos support we surely linear you want

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00:21:06,83 --> 00:21:13,09
to explain this absolutely so as many of
you are aware our city assessors Scott

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00:21:13,13 --> 00:21:19,44
Ingerson retired in the
spring of 21000 and the

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00:21:19,80 --> 00:21:25,69
deputy in the city assessor's office has
been serving as the interim city assessor

185
00:21:25,77 --> 00:21:27,76
and after

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00:21:27,80 --> 00:21:34,30
a recruitment process that started back May
23rd the position has been offered and

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00:21:34,31 --> 00:21:37,56
accepted by Miss Paula Griffin it's just

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00:21:37,57 --> 00:21:44,57
a 1st and. Effective July 15th with
this approval she will be your new city

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00:21:44,61 --> 00:21:51,03
assess their. Great Any other comments or
questions I would just like to thank you

190
00:21:51,04 --> 00:21:52,88
Paula for stepping up you have been

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00:21:52,92 --> 00:21:57,87
a real public service servant to us and I
know you have helped me with constituent

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00:21:57,88 --> 00:22:02,72
issues so very much appreciate your
willingness to serve quite responsive and

193
00:22:03,36 --> 00:22:04,12
really gets

194
00:22:04,36 --> 00:22:09,38
a high level of customer service I agree
with Commissioner thank you. OK All those

195
00:22:09,39 --> 00:22:16,22
in favor and I oppose same sign motion
carries and thank you again so that brings

196
00:22:16,23 --> 00:22:19,94
us to our next resolution and when I'm
finished reading it we will have to suspend

197
00:22:19,95 --> 00:22:24,12
the rules this is a resolution approving
a collective bargaining agreement with

198
00:22:24,13 --> 00:22:28,52
a Grand Rapids Police Officers Association
crime scene technician latent print

199
00:22:28,53 --> 00:22:33,63
examiner and police in
turn unit so. I need

200
00:22:33,64 --> 00:22:38,83
a motion to suspend the rules more support
OK All those in favor right Paul same

201
00:22:38,84 --> 00:22:45,64
sign. Commissioner moody calling on you
again and yes ma'am I got you the Grand

202
00:22:45,65 --> 00:22:50,21
Rapids Police Officers Association crime
scene technicians Laden crime examiners

203
00:22:50,22 --> 00:22:55,24
police then turn unit has advised the city's
bargaining team that their membership

204
00:22:55,25 --> 00:23:00,97
has ratified the contract covering the
period of July 1 2019 through June 3022

205
00:23:02,30 --> 00:23:09,07
the tax resolution of lies to terms of
the settlements of this agreement. OK

206
00:23:09,11 --> 00:23:15,39
thank you questions Kelly. OK All
those in favor of post same sign

207
00:23:15,56 --> 00:23:19,91
a motion carries OK we'll have we need
another motion to suspend the rules for the

208
00:23:19,92 --> 00:23:25,13
move support court all those in
favor I'm opposed same side this is

209
00:23:25,14 --> 00:23:28,30
a resolution approving collective bargaining
agreement with the grammar office

210
00:23:28,31 --> 00:23:33,69
Police Officers Association so move forward
commissioner Lanier Would you mind

211
00:23:33,70 --> 00:23:34,93
explaining sure not

212
00:23:34,94 --> 00:23:40,83
a problem just as what Commissioner
moody explain we have come to

213
00:23:40,84 --> 00:23:47,38
a ratified. Vote with the G R
P go away for their 3 year

214
00:23:47,61 --> 00:23:53,97
contract and it's just that contract time
of the year and so many of them are on

215
00:23:53,98 --> 00:23:57,98
the agenda today and thank you for the
staff who was put work in energy into

216
00:23:57,99 --> 00:24:04,84
negotiating the contract thing pushing
those through. Absolutely and thank you to

217
00:24:04,85 --> 00:24:09,86
the union members as well any other questions
colleagues OK now call the question

218
00:24:09,87 --> 00:24:15,60
all those in favor and I oppose same sign
motion carries we need another motion to

219
00:24:15,61 --> 00:24:19,73
suspend the rules so
move work in favor write

220
00:24:19,87 --> 00:24:23,07
a post same sign this
resolution is approving in

221
00:24:23,08 --> 00:24:26,85
a collective bargaining agreement with
the emergency communications supervisors

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00:24:26,86 --> 00:24:32,62
general Teamsters Union
Local 4 or 6 you need

223
00:24:32,63 --> 00:24:39,51
a notion of emotion so moved her so forth
and Commissioner JONES Can you explain

224
00:24:39,52 --> 00:24:43,99
this yes madam president it was the
emergency communications supervisors their

225
00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:49,17
general Teamsters Union Local 4 or 6 they've
advised the city's board meeting that

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00:24:49,18 --> 00:24:53,78
their membership has ratified the contract
covering the period of July 1 2019

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00:24:54,13 --> 00:25:00,49
through June 30 2022. Any questions
colleagues and all those in favor

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00:25:01,43 --> 00:25:07,62
of post same sign motion carries. OK
That brings us to our public hearings

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00:25:08,45 --> 00:25:12,93
so public hearings are scheduled to allow
citizens to speak on public subjects

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00:25:12,94 --> 00:25:15,18
which come before the
Commission for action at

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00:25:15,19 --> 00:25:19,96
a future date the speaker's managed to
address the commission wants on each hearing

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00:25:20,54 --> 00:25:25,93
and tonight's public hearing is to receive
comment on the proposed parks Milledge

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00:25:25,94 --> 00:25:30,09
question. You know just just

234
00:25:30,10 --> 00:25:36,69
a. Tea this up in 2013 the voters
are going to pass the 7 year

235
00:25:37,59 --> 00:25:44,45
point 90 Milledge for parks playgrounds and
pools in that military coming to an end

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00:25:44,46 --> 00:25:49,01
at the end of 2020 friends are growing up
as parks and other interested groups have

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00:25:49,14 --> 00:25:54,05
requested the city commission placed the
issue against once again in front of the

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00:25:54,06 --> 00:26:00,99
voters on this November ballot.
The request is the request is for

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00:26:01,00 --> 00:26:07,78
a 1.25 mill permit for playgrounds
pools and Parks thank

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00:26:07,79 --> 00:26:13,06
you the city clerk so now he will take
comments about this hearing so if you'd like

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00:26:13,07 --> 00:26:18,66
to make comments please come up sign your
name good lord over there and come to the

242
00:26:18,67 --> 00:26:23,13
microphone. Madam President
if I may can I ask

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00:26:23,14 --> 00:26:28,16
a couple questions prior to the absent
public comment period I think it's important

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00:26:28,17 --> 00:26:29,24
for the public to hear

245
00:26:29,25 --> 00:26:34,51
a little bit more detail about what the
1.25 mill means and I don't know if if

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00:26:34,52 --> 00:26:39,06
that's for you to answer city clerk or
not but I think you know we talk when

247
00:26:39,38 --> 00:26:41,57
a couple weeks ago when we and this as

248
00:26:41,58 --> 00:26:48,16
a public hearing we talked about the
difference in the pricing. For homeowners

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00:26:48,72 --> 00:26:54,27
and I think that would be good to talk about
and I think in addition to that. This

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00:26:54,81 --> 00:27:01,01
militia that we currently have
expires. Or 2019 or maybe

251
00:27:01,14 --> 00:27:06,71
summertime never really 202020 so I think
it's important for the public to also

252
00:27:06,72 --> 00:27:12,30
know when this will start and if
it does when does it end and as

253
00:27:12,31 --> 00:27:19,18
a part of the discussion so the the 2013
Milledge started in 2014 and expires in

254
00:27:19,22 --> 00:27:26,09
December of 2020 this new Milledge would
start in January of 2021 so it would

255
00:27:26,10 --> 00:27:27,06
take to take

256
00:27:27,07 --> 00:27:33,86
a fact after the 2020 Milledge
expires as far is so we do

257
00:27:33,87 --> 00:27:37,68
the thing about religious as of the new
Sesar talk about Milledge freeze No I'm

258
00:27:37,69 --> 00:27:44,45
kidding. Cause like I'm ready
for this so so basically when

259
00:27:44,46 --> 00:27:45,40
we talk about

260
00:27:45,74 --> 00:27:52,59
a military of $1.00 mills that's $1.00
for every $1000.00 of $1000.00 of us

261
00:27:52,63 --> 00:27:59,23
of. Taxable value sorry I keep
going to see what is taxable value

262
00:27:59,47 --> 00:28:04,80
and so if you tax will value on your I get
you math in my head. You say if you have

263
00:28:04,81 --> 00:28:10,43
a $200000.00 valued house and so the the
actual value would be 100000 drop to

264
00:28:10,44 --> 00:28:15,32
$100.00 so be. We do math and it was

265
00:28:15,33 --> 00:28:20,53
a plan to do math I'm sorry Well I think
when we and I don't know when when the

266
00:28:20,54 --> 00:28:25,68
citizens came before the commission and
talked about it we asked them specifically

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00:28:26,05 --> 00:28:26,79
what on

268
00:28:26,80 --> 00:28:31,28
a $100000.00 home what the difference
would be in what they're paying with this

269
00:28:31,29 --> 00:28:35,39
kind Milledge and what they would be pain
in the increase I don't have my notes and

270
00:28:35,40 --> 00:28:40,23
pricing and I thought it was
like $47.00. Thank you.

271
00:28:43,12 --> 00:28:43,33
She's

272
00:28:43,34 --> 00:28:50,24
a calculator so. If you're
property is worth 200000 dollars

273
00:28:50,50 --> 00:28:56,82
dollars here is taxable value
would be 100000 so the point

274
00:28:56,89 --> 00:29:03,46
$9000000.00 mill rate would be
$98.00 and then it would move up to

275
00:29:03,47 --> 00:29:10,31
100 $25.00 if I get that right now
that's covered so right OK So

276
00:29:11,30 --> 00:29:15,25
right now we're not paying the night point
9 A It's less than that because it gets

277
00:29:15,26 --> 00:29:20,57
rolled back by Hadley so
it would go increase to

278
00:29:20,73 --> 00:29:27,12
$125.00. In the expiration of
the Milledge that's before

279
00:29:27,91 --> 00:29:32,47
I didn't say that I did state that it would
be put in permanent would be put in we

280
00:29:32,48 --> 00:29:39,28
didn't state it but I did say that.
You didn't go any way I did I did

281
00:29:39,29 --> 00:29:43,44
state that there would be there would be
there would be an expiration Well hold on

282
00:29:44,12 --> 00:29:45,81
it would be permanent unless there's

283
00:29:45,82 --> 00:29:52,60
a charter amendment to end it right so there
is no expiration without action that's

284
00:29:52,61 --> 00:29:57,57
correct right evergreen.
OK Thank you Paul.

285
00:29:59,69 --> 00:30:04,02
OK Well thank you Commissioner for bringing
up those questions because I think

286
00:30:04,03 --> 00:30:04,50
people had

287
00:30:05,41 --> 00:30:10,24
a misguided understanding that it was
going to be like $125.00 more rather than

288
00:30:10,25 --> 00:30:15,11
$15.00 an hour added on to what we've
already we are already paying for the parks

289
00:30:15,24 --> 00:30:22,10
so. The president forgive
me I do want to pass

290
00:30:22,11 --> 00:30:27,73
because of that one layer earlier
but I so much appreciate Paula's.

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00:30:29,40 --> 00:30:35,79
Leadership and it's evident that she's
prepared what she just shared with us

292
00:30:35,89 --> 00:30:40,83
and I could not let the moment for go by
without showing our community appreciation

293
00:30:40,84 --> 00:30:45,84
we just support our police chief yesterday
and the comedian pause I think we also

294
00:30:45,85 --> 00:30:48,37
need applause for and the word for

295
00:30:48,38 --> 00:30:55,58
a new assessor. Well

296
00:30:55,59 --> 00:31:02,39
said and I agree thank you. OK now we will
proceed to becoming public comments and

297
00:31:03,29 --> 00:31:09,98
this hearing about the parts
of which. What's up where

298
00:31:10,44 --> 00:31:17,30
the mole is on the west side 879 and I are
suppose kind of park starved area had

299
00:31:17,31 --> 00:31:22,77
a place of that stocking ski stocking school
I could use that house wall when I was

300
00:31:22,78 --> 00:31:27,06
a kid but a couple of such

301
00:31:27,07 --> 00:31:30,88
a commission is back and one of the
commissioners and 3rd Ward went after

302
00:31:31,30 --> 00:31:34,68
a park area it's a long
valley street and it's

303
00:31:34,69 --> 00:31:39,02
a process from my field of jeans which
is be we called Valley feel no it's Bob

304
00:31:39,03 --> 00:31:44,76
Sullivan field and he lives downtown
so I think it was sorry is Star.

305
00:31:45,90 --> 00:31:50,39
The milage is that appears to be you are
the last number we hear or well or the

306
00:31:50,40 --> 00:31:53,58
motor paying for the rapid they
give us no service you know it's

307
00:31:53,59 --> 00:31:59,26
a park you can have some influence on
improving on it. And the situation of someone

308
00:31:59,27 --> 00:32:06,16
to commit park emissions are pretty good
so it's well Bowl rapid Milledge and seems

309
00:32:06,17 --> 00:32:06,31
like

310
00:32:06,32 --> 00:32:12,78
a good deal please consider the our bear
country were very hung around for weeks

311
00:32:12,79 --> 00:32:17,11
and weeks of my new place and that's

312
00:32:17,12 --> 00:32:22,38
a bird same tree less map I saw one
brilliant one up back there got approval I

313
00:32:22,39 --> 00:32:27,86
don't think is some point up yet but it
did simply call as an undisturbed area

314
00:32:27,87 --> 00:32:31,13
while we were told us it was
a bird sanctuary solve maybe

315
00:32:31,14 --> 00:32:38,05
a city funds should be used to acquire
that bird saying. That would be in the

316
00:32:38,24 --> 00:32:38,93
war chest

317
00:32:38,94 --> 00:32:45,62
a neighborhood messages that pronounce
it looser. And Chesapeake called

318
00:32:45,63 --> 00:32:49,45
Chesapeake lake maybe that bird sanctuary
should be purchased at some point with

319
00:32:49,46 --> 00:32:56,18
some queer long term bond deal on the east
side thank you very much thank you Mr

320
00:32:56,19 --> 00:33:02,07
Miller. Good evening Robert Metzgar

321
00:33:02,89 --> 00:33:09,68
1050. 312 prospect northeastern Grand
Rapids. I think we're all pretty supportive

322
00:33:09,69 --> 00:33:13,56
of our parks we like to see things maintained
and in an ongoing basis instead of

323
00:33:13,57 --> 00:33:15,84
kind of fits and starts
which we've all seen over

324
00:33:16,18 --> 00:33:19,56
a couple of decades one of things I've
noticed and I don't know you might forgive

325
00:33:19,57 --> 00:33:23,79
my ignorance and maybe there's an ordinance
against it but I've never seen and it

326
00:33:23,80 --> 00:33:28,59
always dawned on me why haven't we so taken
advantage of what we have in the way of

327
00:33:28,60 --> 00:33:32,41
good corporate citizens in the area in the
way of sponsorship and maybe they get

328
00:33:32,42 --> 00:33:36,27
a chance to live their free advertising
but it seems like Parks and Recreation is

329
00:33:36,28 --> 00:33:40,66
the 1st place that gets cut when it
comes to austerity so maybe we can see

330
00:33:40,67 --> 00:33:41,41
a little bit more in the way of

331
00:33:41,42 --> 00:33:47,13
a public private partnership that might
persevered. Thank you Mr Matthew good point

332
00:33:47,13 --> 00:33:53,75
. Good evening ladies and
gentlemen minds run walk

333
00:33:53,76 --> 00:33:59,02
this side resident for almost 15 years
also chair of the Parks and Rec advisory

334
00:33:59,03 --> 00:34:04,10
committee I want to just speak on both
those levels briefly 1st of all from my

335
00:34:04,11 --> 00:34:07,51
experience in the Parks and Rec committee
have had an opportunity to kind of peek

336
00:34:07,52 --> 00:34:14,43
behind the curtain so to say and have
seen over several years on this this this

337
00:34:14,44 --> 00:34:18,04
advisory committee just
been very impressed with

338
00:34:18,05 --> 00:34:24,95
a very responsible usage of public funds
and this current Milledge. Parts have

339
00:34:24,96 --> 00:34:29,81
done exactly what they said they would
do they have used these funds in

340
00:34:29,82 --> 00:34:36,58
a very responsible transparent authentic
manner and then to the last gentleman's

341
00:34:36,59 --> 00:34:38,52
point the parks have also done

342
00:34:38,53 --> 00:34:44,99
a phenomenal job of leveraging public and
other resources to the tune of millions

343
00:34:45,00 --> 00:34:50,87
of dollars to and han't to for further
enhance vents with the milage money so from

344
00:34:50,88 --> 00:34:56,52
my position on the parts advisory committee
again I've just been so impressed with

345
00:34:56,53 --> 00:35:02,66
the way the parts of responsibly used the
current funding and have high confidence

346
00:35:02,70 --> 00:35:08,10
that if this milage passes that that
responsible usage will continue speaking as

347
00:35:08,11 --> 00:35:13,26
a resident also I just want to clarify
one thing that you had commented on or

348
00:35:13,30 --> 00:35:20,27
discussed just to be clear
the milage renewal. Average

349
00:35:20,28 --> 00:35:27,13
of $15.00 per home for average home prices
the increase that we're talking about

350
00:35:27,36 --> 00:35:30,28
an average of $15.00 annually as

351
00:35:30,29 --> 00:35:35,81
a resident Westside I live across the street
from the most beautiful park in Grand

352
00:35:35,82 --> 00:35:39,21
Rapids of course we're talking about Lincoln
Park Commission O'CONNOR You know what

353
00:35:39,22 --> 00:35:46,11
I'm talking about 10 years ago this
park was almost unusable dilapidated

354
00:35:46,12 --> 00:35:52,19
pool that was full of stagnant water
broken down tennis courts basketball court

355
00:35:52,20 --> 00:35:57,71
that was missing several hoops.
The playground was disheveled.

356
00:35:58,88 --> 00:36:01,39
Fast forward 10 years we've got

357
00:36:01,40 --> 00:36:06,50
a beautiful new spot splash pad the tennis
courts have been converted into football

358
00:36:06,51 --> 00:36:12,65
corks the basketball courts are renewed the
playground has new playground equipment

359
00:36:12,87 --> 00:36:16,87
if you go to Lincoln Park on
an evening like tonight it is

360
00:36:16,88 --> 00:36:22,85
a thriving community park that is primarily
because of the investment of the

361
00:36:22,86 --> 00:36:28,47
millage dollars and the leverage of
additional dollars in that park that have

362
00:36:28,48 --> 00:36:31,75
brought it from almost unusable land to

363
00:36:31,79 --> 00:36:38,19
a thriving community park with beautiful
community it's safe for families it is

364
00:36:38,20 --> 00:36:42,47
vital for the health of our community so I
strongly support this Milledge thank you

365
00:36:42,48 --> 00:36:47,24
for your time thank you Mr Wilkinson thank
you for your service and ties very bored

366
00:36:47,51 --> 00:36:48,92
and for the clarification

367
00:36:54,77 --> 00:36:58,11
Hi My name is Sharon Berger and I live in

368
00:36:58,12 --> 00:37:03,91
a home owner in the East Hills neighborhood
association and I'm very active in that

369
00:37:03,92 --> 00:37:08,84
I've been on the board and I've been on
various committees and I just want to say

370
00:37:08,85 --> 00:37:12,51
that. As the prior speaker what

371
00:37:12,52 --> 00:37:18,80
a difference the having the hard scape has
made for our community we 2 weeks ago

372
00:37:18,81 --> 00:37:24,44
just had the most wonderful park party
I wish I sent. Commissioner Kelly

373
00:37:24,45 --> 00:37:26,37
a clip of it just such

374
00:37:26,38 --> 00:37:29,10
a diverse cross-section of people
coming together and having

375
00:37:29,11 --> 00:37:34,82
a blast and. So you have to create the space
and then the people can take advantage

376
00:37:34,83 --> 00:37:39,58
of it so we love our splash pad we would
like to see some market money coming our

377
00:37:39,59 --> 00:37:46,52
way we'd like to see our tennis court
and our basketball court repaved and. I

378
00:37:46,53 --> 00:37:51,66
just support parks because they are places
for people to come together and I and I

379
00:37:51,67 --> 00:37:56,87
like the way that you have. Seemed like all
the parks have benefited in and that's

380
00:37:56,96 --> 00:37:57,36
just been

381
00:37:57,37 --> 00:38:01,20
a great thing so I certainly don't mind
paying that Melligen I hope other people

382
00:38:01,21 --> 00:38:05,77
feel like I do thanks thanks for the
same comments and your service.

383
00:38:11,76 --> 00:38:14,19
Kind of. Sort of

384
00:38:14,20 --> 00:38:19,50
a little stuff on there too often it can
get public support. Money was trashed

385
00:38:19,51 --> 00:38:19,83
rhetoric of

386
00:38:19,84 --> 00:38:23,73
a professor at Grambling State Commissioner
Kelly we met before yes pleasure to see

387
00:38:23,74 --> 00:38:30,46
you again. I teach urban geography at
Grambling State. Cities and one thing that

388
00:38:30,47 --> 00:38:36,10
I'd like you can consider in addition to
all the sort of stories you're listening

389
00:38:36,11 --> 00:38:40,20
to now is the economic dimension of quality
of life and the role that plays in the

390
00:38:40,21 --> 00:38:41,55
economic development of

391
00:38:41,60 --> 00:38:46,02
a place like Grand Rapids there are 800
cities in the United States that have over

392
00:38:46,03 --> 00:38:51,09
$50000.00 population there are scattered
all over the United States each of them

393
00:38:51,10 --> 00:38:57,59
has their own qualities and their.
Points of interest for firms they

394
00:38:57,77 --> 00:39:04,18
locate new regional headquarters warehouses
and things like that. One of the things

395
00:39:04,19 --> 00:39:08,66
that is becoming increasingly more important
to these decisions is quality of life

396
00:39:08,86 --> 00:39:13,26
in the city we saw this
recently with the Amazon move.

397
00:39:15,74 --> 00:39:19,66
Yes there's like I said there's lots of
cities all about it states that will fit

398
00:39:19,84 --> 00:39:24,80
different roles. All the cities
have a tendency to give up

399
00:39:24,84 --> 00:39:30,85
a lot of money for investment in jobs
right. What's the deciding factor

400
00:39:30,96 --> 00:39:36,49
a lot of times is it since there's cities
everywhere and since even if you know 10

401
00:39:36,50 --> 00:39:41,46
percent of your 300 say cities that fit
your bill have the kind of labor force

402
00:39:41,47 --> 00:39:45,07
you're acquires are still 30 cities to
choose from right what's going to be the

403
00:39:45,08 --> 00:39:49,50
deciding factor and increasingly
especially with the to sort of values

404
00:39:49,51 --> 00:39:55,93
a millennial is have and Jen's either the
next one coming they prefer to live in

405
00:39:55,94 --> 00:40:01,97
places where they enjoy life so please
consider this not just the quality of life

406
00:40:02,85 --> 00:40:08,26
issue for children and residents but also
economic concerns as things tighten up in

407
00:40:08,27 --> 00:40:12,57
the future with the cities trying to capture
capital from the from from firms as

408
00:40:12,58 --> 00:40:17,25
they move around what is that marginal
benefit that Grand Rapids provides that

409
00:40:17,26 --> 00:40:23,51
other cities will not and so I think this
milage is probably not the most important

410
00:40:23,52 --> 00:40:28,14
thing but it's certainly I think every
advantage we can get we need OK I think if

411
00:40:28,15 --> 00:40:32,70
you have any questions of regarding data
on this I didn't prepare anything to hand

412
00:40:32,71 --> 00:40:36,61
to you today but you can reach me at Grand
Valley State I'd be more than happy to

413
00:40:36,62 --> 00:40:42,53
provide you with the research appeared the
research that. Supports this position

414
00:40:42,77 --> 00:40:49,10
Thank you Professor You Might Be careful
what you ask. I mean. Thank you for coming

415
00:40:49,10 --> 00:40:49,10
.

416
00:40:55,94 --> 00:41:01,61
Good evening commissioners. The manager I
want to read something to you that I've

417
00:41:01,62 --> 00:41:07,07
put together 70 items friends of going to
it's parks obviously we're big supporters

418
00:41:07,19 --> 00:41:11,40
of our parks playgrounds and trees I want
to share with you that the national park

419
00:41:11,41 --> 00:41:15,99
system as you may or may not know is
established in 1800 swith the radical idea

420
00:41:16,03 --> 00:41:20,49
that setting aside land for preservation
and public use was important the city of

421
00:41:20,50 --> 00:41:24,43
Grand Rapids also recognized the importance
of parks by creating our very 1st one

422
00:41:24,44 --> 00:41:31,37
in 833186 years ago Courthouse Square
now known as Veterans Memorial Park in

423
00:41:31,38 --> 00:41:37,06
1910 Grand Rapids continued to be an early
adopter of our parks with establishment

424
00:41:37,10 --> 00:41:42,14
of our playground Association led by Charles
Garfield the playground associations

425
00:41:42,15 --> 00:41:46,39
motto this may sound familiar was a
playground for every child within

426
00:41:46,40 --> 00:41:52,52
a half mile of their home 109 years later
we have yet to complete this mission our

427
00:41:52,53 --> 00:41:55,93
community still understands the significance
of parks because the passing of our

428
00:41:55,94 --> 00:42:01,51
2013 Milledge supported that so we can
reinvest in our ever important park system

429
00:42:02,03 --> 00:42:07,38
the benefits are evident across the entire
city filled pools new Splash pads new

430
00:42:07,39 --> 00:42:12,30
playground equipment 80 accessible parks
and playgrounds and proof sports courts

431
00:42:12,61 --> 00:42:18,24
and better places to gather with our
friends neighbors and family these well

432
00:42:18,25 --> 00:42:20,19
maintained parks and facilities create

433
00:42:20,20 --> 00:42:25,47
a strong foundation for the future of our
park system and for our community parks

434
00:42:25,48 --> 00:42:30,09
add to the infrastructure of Grand
Rapids and they are vital to enrich our

435
00:42:30,10 --> 00:42:33,32
communities mental physical
and emotional health but I'm

436
00:42:33,33 --> 00:42:39,06
a man that not just that property values
they contribute to safer neighborhoods

437
00:42:39,10 --> 00:42:45,12
they provide wildlife habitat environmental
benefits for Storm Rider medication. We

438
00:42:45,13 --> 00:42:48,94
need to continues not only protect our
current park system we need to elevate our

439
00:42:48,95 --> 00:42:53,93
park standard with more infrastructure
programming and maintenance of what this

440
00:42:53,94 --> 00:43:00,86
milage will provide. We
need to continue to see

441
00:43:00,87 --> 00:43:05,03
that there is the economic need for green
spaces and parks because there will

442
00:43:05,04 --> 00:43:10,34
always be ups and downs in our economy but
the need will always be constant because

443
00:43:10,35 --> 00:43:15,38
our city is expanding and we need to
ensure that parks and green spaces are

444
00:43:15,42 --> 00:43:20,71
accessible accurate ball and available to
everyone in our community especially our

445
00:43:20,72 --> 00:43:21,22
children

446
00:43:22,70 --> 00:43:27,46
a park city of over 300 parks was done by
Clemson and North Carolina University in

447
00:43:27,47 --> 00:43:33,86
2017 and found that burglars larceny and
auto theft occurs less in neighborhoods

448
00:43:34,05 --> 00:43:40,04
with greener spaces and more well kept
and maintained parks that are also

449
00:43:40,08 --> 00:43:46,32
programmed. Violent crimes are also less
common in greener areas and all the

450
00:43:46,33 --> 00:43:52,80
studies that were looked at and why is
this connection with nature reduces

451
00:43:52,84 --> 00:43:57,80
crime stress and aggression and make
people feel healthier and happier and less

452
00:43:58,27 --> 00:44:02,53
inclined to engage in criminal
activities by giving aren't community

453
00:44:02,54 --> 00:44:07,10
a place to participate in the outdoors
activities together they Perot social

454
00:44:07,11 --> 00:44:11,02
interactions that are positive across the
entire community Thank you Mrs Adams I'm

455
00:44:11,03 --> 00:44:17,46
sorry to hear them but I really appreciate
your comments and this is the system

456
00:44:17,47 --> 00:44:19,95
should you know that you are
the executive director of

457
00:44:19,99 --> 00:44:23,60
a wonderful group supporting ours our parents
friends of Grand Rapids park so thank

458
00:44:23,61 --> 00:44:23,99
you know that.

459
00:44:31,28 --> 00:44:34,37
Good evening good evening
I'm mad he wrote I'm

460
00:44:34,38 --> 00:44:38,52
a Westside resident I get to call my
neighborhood parks west side comments Lincoln

461
00:44:38,53 --> 00:44:42,14
Park and hopefully one day
Lexington Park I'm also

462
00:44:42,15 --> 00:44:46,14
a former intern of friends of Grand
Rapids parks currently a team lead for

463
00:44:46,15 --> 00:44:50,34
a local youth running club that's hosted
within Garfield Park and I'm here to

464
00:44:50,35 --> 00:44:55,99
support this Milledge I have firsthand
seen people use our Splash Pads our place

465
00:44:56,00 --> 00:45:01,17
structures our skate ramps and our green
space Parks Airport our center points of

466
00:45:01,18 --> 00:45:06,28
community and then an urban green space it
is vital to health happiness and shared

467
00:45:06,29 --> 00:45:10,99
sense of community within an area by
supporting the millage we are investing in our

468
00:45:11,00 --> 00:45:16,22
green spaces which then becomes a social
justice issue an environmental issue and

469
00:45:16,23 --> 00:45:19,36
a public health issue thank
you thank you Ms Rhodes.

470
00:45:24,47 --> 00:45:26,30
Good evening my name
is Lansing So I'm just

471
00:45:26,31 --> 00:45:31,23
a still Mr Graham Valley State and I'm part
of the crim Valley students and as well

472
00:45:32,23 --> 00:45:37,54
I would just like to see more recycling
bins at the Parks please thank you OK thank

473
00:45:37,55 --> 00:45:44,19
you I would too. Good

474
00:45:44,20 --> 00:45:49,54
evening I'm an ABATE and I sit on the board
of friends are grown up it's Parks my

475
00:45:49,55 --> 00:45:55,14
resident 5 or 7 Norwood which puts me right
on the cusp of the 1st and 2nd wards

476
00:45:55,80 --> 00:45:55,97
it's

477
00:45:55,98 --> 00:46:00,24
a wonderful place to be and one of the
reasons that I selected it was because we

478
00:46:00,25 --> 00:46:05,23
are within walking distance of 3 Public
Parks Martin Luther King Park City Park and

479
00:46:05,24 --> 00:46:11,69
Wilcox park and I would like to make 2
points one my son's right there on his

480
00:46:11,70 --> 00:46:16,39
tablet so. I think that parks
are incredibly important as

481
00:46:16,40 --> 00:46:20,93
a mother one of the things that we're
fighting against I think all of us across the

482
00:46:20,94 --> 00:46:27,10
board are getting our children away from
their electronic devices and at our house

483
00:46:28,05 --> 00:46:32,43
the rule is is that every day in
the summer they have to go to

484
00:46:32,44 --> 00:46:38,08
a park but if the other purpose permitting
So I think that from that perspective

485
00:46:38,89 --> 00:46:41,13
all of us can agree that for families it's

486
00:46:41,14 --> 00:46:46,78
a vital resource. From the perspective
of being a board member being

487
00:46:46,79 --> 00:46:49,48
a board member of Friends or
grown up its perks has given me

488
00:46:50,10 --> 00:46:54,29
a lot more information about a lot of
the things that the parks do for us as

489
00:46:54,30 --> 00:46:58,67
a city and as a community more insight that
I would have had that of if I was just

490
00:46:58,68 --> 00:47:03,17
a resident and to speak to one of the other
speakers spoke to about the gatherings

491
00:47:03,18 --> 00:47:06,35
that happen in parks which my
family does participate in quite

492
00:47:06,36 --> 00:47:12,01
a bit I think they're vital to the creation
of community but also the creation of

493
00:47:12,02 --> 00:47:16,65
stewardship if we want our citizens to be
involved in city and if we want them to

494
00:47:16,66 --> 00:47:20,49
be involved in our community we have to
give them resource and space to be able to

495
00:47:20,50 --> 00:47:24,69
do that thank you thank
you Mr your comments

496
00:47:28,76 --> 00:47:33,31
and here comes our former
parks director. Norman.

497
00:47:35,95 --> 00:47:42,79
Norman Thomas and I retired as director
of parks 30 years ago. I held the

498
00:47:42,80 --> 00:47:47,01
position with the city.
Not all the time as

499
00:47:47,02 --> 00:47:53,09
a director but with the park department for
32 years during that time I've come to

500
00:47:53,10 --> 00:47:57,59
know them came to know that parks make

501
00:47:57,63 --> 00:48:04,42
a good city they are essential
cities that don't have good parks

502
00:48:06,38 --> 00:48:13,22
are terrible places to live. With
the present park Milledge you

503
00:48:13,23 --> 00:48:13,73
have seen

504
00:48:13,74 --> 00:48:20,38
a resident renaissance of the park
system new parks refurbished parks

505
00:48:20,51 --> 00:48:27,47
modern playgrounds. It's
just been phenomenal

506
00:48:27,48 --> 00:48:33,48
what has been accomplished
to not go ahead would be

507
00:48:33,60 --> 00:48:40,41
a step terrible step backwards
so in your deliberations

508
00:48:40,71 --> 00:48:43,55
remember good parks make

509
00:48:43,61 --> 00:48:50,19
a good city Thank you said thank
you to the tabs and welcome.

510
00:48:54,69 --> 00:49:00,58
Good evening city commissioners Sin City
Manager city staff My name is Monica say

511
00:49:00,59 --> 00:49:05,76
my app and I am the current board chair of
friends of Grand Rapids parks I am also

512
00:49:05,77 --> 00:49:11,34
a resident of the 2nd word I work in the
1st ward and frequent the 3rd Ward.

513
00:49:12,76 --> 00:49:17,29
So I feel like I've made my way around
to our beautiful city and it has been my

514
00:49:17,30 --> 00:49:22,91
privilege to serve on this board for the
last 6 years I chose to get involved in

515
00:49:22,92 --> 00:49:27,77
the beginning because I truly truly
believe in community and I feel that our

516
00:49:27,78 --> 00:49:33,42
outdoor spaces and our parks have they
provide an opportunity for us to be able to

517
00:49:33,43 --> 00:49:39,83
gather for our kids to be able to play
for commuting Gage meant to happen and

518
00:49:40,46 --> 00:49:45,14
in I appreciate the support of this city
and our citizens during our last minute

519
00:49:45,20 --> 00:49:49,08
Milledge and I've been it's been an honor
to be able to watch the improvements

520
00:49:49,09 --> 00:49:55,28
happen. We live within walking distance
to Cherry Park and pleasant park

521
00:49:56,06 --> 00:50:00,04
although I think we live in walking distance
to more my kids don't agree with me

522
00:50:00,30 --> 00:50:06,09
but. But I love being able to frequent all
of our parks and experience that and I

523
00:50:06,10 --> 00:50:11,93
think that we have so much more that we
have the ability to do. It I believe that

524
00:50:11,94 --> 00:50:18,69
the engagement and the opportunity for
programming for our kids. Can and can be

525
00:50:18,70 --> 00:50:23,83
improved and the maintenance and I'm so
excited to see and I want to see the

526
00:50:23,84 --> 00:50:29,27
continuation of that to be able to
happen. I'm happy to also serve as

527
00:50:29,28 --> 00:50:35,85
a resource if there ever any questions
also I excited to see all of the

528
00:50:35,86 --> 00:50:39,50
opportunities that we have and I agree
I would love to see more recycling

529
00:50:39,51 --> 00:50:44,38
opportunities in our parks as well thank
you for that. But thank you I just want to

530
00:50:44,39 --> 00:50:48,47
think this city for their support throughout
the past and for all the hard work

531
00:50:49,36 --> 00:50:53,26
over the past several years and watching
these park improvements happen through the

532
00:50:53,27 --> 00:50:58,18
millage. Burke I want to thank the city in
the Citizens for the support through the

533
00:50:58,19 --> 00:51:03,40
millage and I think we have work left
to do and I'd really like to have that

534
00:51:03,41 --> 00:51:07,90
opportunity and to see our city to be
able to have the resources to be able to

535
00:51:07,91 --> 00:51:13,11
provide that and I will be there and I will
help support it along the way thank you

536
00:51:13,11 --> 00:51:15,34
. For your service as well

537
00:51:20,73 --> 00:51:26,28
hi my name is Tracy Montgomery I'm an
East Hills resident. Couple things I have

538
00:51:26,29 --> 00:51:30,86
been 1st of all incredibly impressed by all
the work that the millage has done thus

539
00:51:30,87 --> 00:51:35,29
far in our parks and I would like to say I
would love to see that continue I served

540
00:51:35,30 --> 00:51:41,09
on the East Hills board as we worked on
Cherry Park and it was so exciting to see

541
00:51:41,10 --> 00:51:45,07
the city's willingness to partner with the
neighborhood association to figure out

542
00:51:45,08 --> 00:51:50,95
what we needed at our park we had an
old wading pool that was unusable and

543
00:51:50,99 --> 00:51:57,09
occupying a fair bit of crucial space at
that park and so we were able to have

544
00:51:57,10 --> 00:52:01,99
a splash pad and other amenities things to
those Milledge dollars as Charlotte did

545
00:52:02,00 --> 00:52:04,00
too and it has been

546
00:52:04,04 --> 00:52:08,96
a critical component to both our winter and
summer programming which is allowed our

547
00:52:08,97 --> 00:52:14,49
city to our neighborhood and our
city be a 4 Seasons city which is

548
00:52:14,85 --> 00:52:19,36
a great thing and I know that we are actively
working continue to expand on that so

549
00:52:19,60 --> 00:52:24,68
I'd love to voice my support of the millage
and the consistent fund that this will

550
00:52:24,69 --> 00:52:29,58
give us to continue to amplify our public
spaces thank you thank you Mr Montgomery

551
00:52:29,58 --> 00:52:29,58
.

552
00:52:36,66 --> 00:52:39,58
Good evening my name is
daddy cologne and I found

553
00:52:39,59 --> 00:52:44,48
a resident of the 3rd of the East Hills
neighborhood for 30 plus years just

554
00:52:44,49 --> 00:52:50,12
a few blocks from Cherry Park and Cherry
Park has never looked better than it looks

555
00:52:50,13 --> 00:52:51,80
now and we still have

556
00:52:51,81 --> 00:52:58,71
a ways to go to really fully utilize
it as an asset to the community. You

557
00:52:58,72 --> 00:53:03,04
know when I see kids having a
great time in this plash park on

558
00:53:03,05 --> 00:53:08,42
a sweltering day and when I see the park
filled with people enjoying the summer

559
00:53:08,43 --> 00:53:13,92
concerts and when I see how welcoming the
new fencing is that has gone up since the

560
00:53:13,93 --> 00:53:20,69
millage was approved I am
really grateful. For. The

561
00:53:20,70 --> 00:53:27,60
City for putting the millage
on the ballot 7 years ago. And

562
00:53:27,71 --> 00:53:29,71
for giving the citizens of this community

563
00:53:29,72 --> 00:53:35,09
a chance to voice their support for
parks I am also grateful for the city's

564
00:53:35,10 --> 00:53:41,22
commitment to meaningful community and
neighborhood engagement. And participating

565
00:53:41,23 --> 00:53:47,46
in the decision making about our parks by
engaging neighborhoods in the planning

566
00:53:47,96 --> 00:53:52,35
for park improvements funded through the
millage the city has helped ensure that

567
00:53:52,36 --> 00:53:58,21
our parks meet the needs of every
neighborhood in which they're located and in

568
00:53:58,22 --> 00:54:03,55
those needs differ considerably from one
neighborhood to another. Through their

569
00:54:03,56 --> 00:54:09,89
participation in the city's parks master
planning process Grand Rapids residents

570
00:54:09,90 --> 00:54:14,90
have had the opportunity to articulate
the additional park investments that we

571
00:54:14,91 --> 00:54:20,61
would like to see in the future including
additional recreational programming more

572
00:54:20,62 --> 00:54:26,03
acquisition of land for parks higher
standards of maintenance and also more

573
00:54:26,04 --> 00:54:32,20
facilities than in putting the parks
Milledge on the ballot 7 years ago the city

574
00:54:32,21 --> 00:54:37,12
clearly articulated what it could accomplish
with the funding from the millage

575
00:54:37,72 --> 00:54:44,29
sense than the city has done an impressive
job of keeping its commitment to funding

576
00:54:44,30 --> 00:54:49,90
improvements at every one of our 70
plus parks and doing that in close

577
00:54:49,91 --> 00:54:55,77
collaboration with community members.
Maintaining high quality parks that support

578
00:54:55,78 --> 00:55:02,67
a robust array of physical. And Recreation
Timothy's is an important expression of

579
00:55:02,68 --> 00:55:09,33
our city's commitment to equity.
Because parks are free and open to

580
00:55:09,34 --> 00:55:14,70
everyone our parks provide people from
varied backgrounds and an economic

581
00:55:14,71 --> 00:55:20,20
situations with an equal opportunity to
enjoy the benefits of physical activity

582
00:55:20,59 --> 00:55:25,81
exposure to nature and the sense of community
that comes from friends family and

583
00:55:25,82 --> 00:55:32,48
neighbors gathering in parks I urge you
to place the millage parks Milledge

584
00:55:32,49 --> 00:55:36,48
renewal on the ballot with
the proposed increase and as

585
00:55:36,49 --> 00:55:41,26
a permanent Milledge of so that Grand
Rapids residents can again affirm their

586
00:55:41,27 --> 00:55:46,16
support for parks and for providing the
city with the funding needed to maintain

587
00:55:46,41 --> 00:55:50,76
a high quality park system thank you thank
you so much for your remarks and for

588
00:55:50,77 --> 00:55:56,03
your service all these years and urban
forestry and just about every committee we

589
00:55:56,04 --> 00:56:03,01
have. My name is Lee Mueller and
I had the privilege to chair

590
00:56:03,02 --> 00:56:06,83
the parks advisory board and we went
through the parks master planning process

591
00:56:07,37 --> 00:56:12,29
commissioners city managers the staff I
appreciate you listening to us today I just

592
00:56:12,30 --> 00:56:13,50
want to share my perspective

593
00:56:13,51 --> 00:56:17,32
a little bit I think parks are an incredibly
important public space from keeping

594
00:56:17,33 --> 00:56:21,00
a school in the summer providing spaces
to neighbors to interact building

595
00:56:21,01 --> 00:56:25,06
communities in and making our you know
community Safer Parks are really really

596
00:56:25,07 --> 00:56:29,75
important I also like to think of parks as
perhaps the last truly democratic space

597
00:56:29,76 --> 00:56:32,40
we have in our community.
You know you don't pay

598
00:56:32,41 --> 00:56:37,57
a fee don't need an address to enter one
of our city parks anyone is welcome and I

599
00:56:37,58 --> 00:56:42,03
don't want to lose that fact as we look
at our park spaces not long ago our parks

600
00:56:42,04 --> 00:56:44,47
are in a terrible state
of disrepair there is

601
00:56:44,48 --> 00:56:49,03
a constant threat of closed pools or
basketball courts are crumbling and we had in

602
00:56:49,04 --> 00:56:54,13
or out in operable drinking fountains in
2013 the voter approved parts Milledge

603
00:56:54,80 --> 00:56:59,33
helped us ensure pools are open in our
parks benefit from new play features

604
00:56:59,34 --> 00:57:04,66
improved sports courts and greater amenities
to date and impressive 57 parks have

605
00:57:04,67 --> 00:57:09,38
been touched by investments and by the time
the 1st Milledge sunset every city park

606
00:57:09,39 --> 00:57:11,89
will have been touched by some
form of investment that's

607
00:57:11,90 --> 00:57:15,42
a promise that was made in the last village
is passed and so far the city has been

608
00:57:15,43 --> 00:57:20,05
doing an incredible job of ensuring that
promises met yet the 7 years promised by

609
00:57:20,06 --> 00:57:23,53
the initial Milledge fails to provide
sufficient investment to accomplish all of

610
00:57:23,54 --> 00:57:27,54
the city's goals not everyone has equal
access to city parks and water amenities

611
00:57:27,55 --> 00:57:32,13
like pools and splash beds the Parks and
Recreation masterplan that citizens

612
00:57:32,14 --> 00:57:37,09
supported and participated in the process
for identified over $41000000.00 in

613
00:57:37,10 --> 00:57:43,10
capital initiatives that are not currently
supported by either the general fund or

614
00:57:43,11 --> 00:57:44,12
the existing Milledge there's

615
00:57:44,13 --> 00:57:48,91
a 41000000 dollars gap in capital initiatives
that still remain on the table this

616
00:57:48,92 --> 00:57:53,71
includes additional splash pads connecting
trail systems park acquisition where we

617
00:57:53,72 --> 00:57:57,92
have areas that currently don't access park
space as readily as other areas of our

618
00:57:57,93 --> 00:58:02,13
community so. All that to say significant
work has been done but there's plenty

619
00:58:02,14 --> 00:58:02,94
more to do

620
00:58:03,28 --> 00:58:06,96
a renewal of the milage helps ensure momentum
and provides the parks department the

621
00:58:06,97 --> 00:58:12,50
certainty necessary to secure partnerships
bring together our community and make

622
00:58:12,54 --> 00:58:16,68
more great things happen in our park these
investments will ensure communities

623
00:58:16,69 --> 00:58:21,98
equitable access to parks so please put
this on our ballot let the citizens of

624
00:58:21,99 --> 00:58:26,02
voice their support for continuing the
investment in our parks we look to you guys

625
00:58:26,03 --> 00:58:29,68
to help make this happen and help be an
active partner in passing another Milledge

626
00:58:29,72 --> 00:58:31,49
thank you thank you Mr Mueller.

627
00:58:40,01 --> 00:58:44,25
In acting mayor and city
commission my neighbors Davis.

628
00:58:46,63 --> 00:58:51,40
Advocate cleaning up the trash in the city
or Grand Rapids and I'd like to address

629
00:58:51,41 --> 00:58:57,67
with people or friends. Around that it's
part and little bit that I've come across

630
00:58:58,11 --> 00:59:04,59
now I live on the west side and I can
travel through such great park frequently

631
00:59:05,36 --> 00:59:07,37
and when I travel through there I find

632
00:59:07,38 --> 00:59:13,41
a lot of trash on the ground and I walk
by and not only talk the talk I walk the

633
00:59:13,42 --> 00:59:20,04
walk and bring one life the values with
me and I think of trash along the way and

634
00:59:20,95 --> 00:59:26,74
at. When people see that they
learn that. What I'm doing is

635
00:59:26,75 --> 00:59:33,42
a factor and Iran that I or advocate that
all of these people I spoke tonight when

636
00:59:33,43 --> 00:59:38,82
they go to your parks take wearing little
bags full Meyer's or whatever and pick up

637
00:59:38,83 --> 00:59:43,01
the trash along the way I've talked with
some of the city's parks staff and they

638
00:59:43,02 --> 00:59:47,69
say that there don't have quite the manpower
they need to do all the things I need

639
00:59:47,70 --> 00:59:54,31
to do British citizens in Grand Rapids
and members of the Grand Rapids

640
00:59:54,63 --> 00:59:57,33
parks friends. I would have

641
00:59:57,34 --> 01:00:02,15
a cat advocate that they do their little
part because there are 10 in the park help

642
01:00:02,16 --> 01:00:06,22
us keep it clean and have a
better park system are in

643
01:00:06,23 --> 01:00:13,23
a way thank you thank you Mr Davis. Good

644
01:00:13,24 --> 01:00:18,28
evening my name is Ruth Stein
resident of the 2nd ward and near

645
01:00:18,29 --> 01:00:22,16
a lot of parks and I drive by most of the
others on my way to work so I really

646
01:00:22,17 --> 01:00:23,07
consider myself

647
01:00:23,62 --> 01:00:27,91
a beneficiary of all of them I've also
been working on the committee that is

648
01:00:27,92 --> 01:00:31,42
volunteering on the committee that is
asking you to consider putting this village

649
01:00:31,43 --> 01:00:36,62
on the ballot to night and I have been doing
that because this is the kind of issue

650
01:00:36,66 --> 01:00:40,31
I mean I'm I'm concerned about all kinds
of political issues in this city but this

651
01:00:40,32 --> 01:00:47,00
one this is the kind of issue that takes
in equity this is an issue I mean some of

652
01:00:47,01 --> 01:00:52,23
us in this city have huge manicured lawns
and some of us have tennis courts in our

653
01:00:52,24 --> 01:00:56,70
back yards and some of us have swimming
pools in our backyards but most of us don't

654
01:00:57,35 --> 01:01:01,67
and every child every person who
lives in this city deserves

655
01:01:01,71 --> 01:01:07,37
a clean safe place to play every single
one of them and the only way we can give

656
01:01:07,38 --> 01:01:12,56
them access to rich people's backyards but
we can give them access to our parks so

657
01:01:12,60 --> 01:01:15,27
so I just it seems like such

658
01:01:15,28 --> 01:01:19,89
a no brainer issue to me that it was hard
for me to resist doing this I really

659
01:01:19,90 --> 01:01:26,56
don't honestly have time for it. In any
case in any case a couple more issues

660
01:01:26,57 --> 01:01:30,79
a lot of things have already been touched
on. But one of the things is that if we

661
01:01:30,80 --> 01:01:36,37
don't renew this issue this Milledge it
will expire and then we will lose the funds

662
01:01:36,38 --> 01:01:38,82
we already have we still
have work to do there are

663
01:01:38,83 --> 01:01:40,35
a lot of parks that still need quite

664
01:01:40,36 --> 01:01:46,72
a bit of work and all of them need maintenance
so if if we don't get these funds

665
01:01:47,13 --> 01:01:50,93
we won't be able to do that and will go
back as many people have said to the bad

666
01:01:50,94 --> 01:01:57,80
old days so so this is this is.
That's that's so that that's.

667
01:01:58,96 --> 01:02:03,54
Maybe I didn't look at my notes and or not
look at my notes and I did speak better

668
01:02:04,24 --> 01:02:08,44
all right so we can't improve the parts
that still need work without the funds we

669
01:02:08,45 --> 01:02:12,52
can't do the maintenance we need without
the funds if this milage isn't extended we

670
01:02:12,53 --> 01:02:16,82
won't have the funds so all I'm sure you've
all been persuaded that you should be

671
01:02:16,83 --> 01:02:20,24
voting for this money right now but all
we're asking you to do is let the citizens

672
01:02:20,25 --> 01:02:24,30
of Grand Rapids vote for it the residents
of Grand Rapids vote for please we beg

673
01:02:24,31 --> 01:02:29,03
you put this on the on the ballot Thank
you Mr for your comments and your time

674
01:02:33,71 --> 01:02:40,49
Hello my name is Delia VENNEMA I live in
South Hill south hill is in the 3rd Ward

675
01:02:40,59 --> 01:02:41,11
it's also

676
01:02:41,12 --> 01:02:47,75
a part of South Town which during the
recession was hit very hard by foreclosures

677
01:02:48,58 --> 01:02:55,02
in my neighborhood I was surrounded by
foreclosed homes the value of my property in

678
01:02:55,55 --> 01:03:01,58
2012 was $35000.00.

679
01:03:03,81 --> 01:03:10,08
At that time we some neighbors and
I with the help of friends parks

680
01:03:10,78 --> 01:03:14,50
we had it and we asked our neighbors
if they would be willing to pay

681
01:03:14,51 --> 01:03:19,34
a special assessment so that we could
change the corner of Madison and pleasant

682
01:03:19,62 --> 01:03:23,54
into pleasant park the neighborhood rallied
and said you know what we have to pay

683
01:03:23,55 --> 01:03:27,95
this out of our out of our pockets $50.00
extra dollars for 10 years but it's

684
01:03:27,99 --> 01:03:32,23
totally worth it. We did it
even though there hadn't been

685
01:03:32,24 --> 01:03:37,00
a park built in 17 years in Grand Rapids
we had no idea what the effects would be.

686
01:03:38,26 --> 01:03:44,01
The park was just just
opened in like the fall of

687
01:03:44,35 --> 01:03:51,11
2014 and already my housing property
value had raised to $80000.00.

688
01:03:52,38 --> 01:03:59,09
The grass grew our neighbors came out we
all played we got to know each other. By

689
01:03:59,10 --> 01:04:05,97
2016 my housing value had
raised to $130000.00 That's

690
01:04:05,98 --> 01:04:12,89
4 times in the original value in 4
years we did not do any improvements

691
01:04:12,90 --> 01:04:19,80
on our home. This is what
happens when you invest in your

692
01:04:19,81 --> 01:04:26,61
parks and in your community. Even though
we pay in our neighborhood we pay

693
01:04:26,86 --> 01:04:33,46
our special assessment because we built
that park. We also pay for the millage

694
01:04:33,97 --> 01:04:40,91
to maintain it money well spent I do not
mind writing that check please give us

695
01:04:40,92 --> 01:04:45,64
the option to continue to invest
in our parks because it makes

696
01:04:45,68 --> 01:04:49,40
a huge difference thank
you Miss Mina enema.

697
01:04:56,56 --> 01:05:01,32
My name is Carl Johnson and I live in the
2nd ward in Eridu still looks like I

698
01:05:01,33 --> 01:05:05,16
could take the rest evening but I can't
talk more than 3 minutes anyway so I will

699
01:05:05,34 --> 01:05:07,80
abide by the time so I
think of this is sort of

700
01:05:07,81 --> 01:05:11,71
a I do support the plan for the MIL age as

701
01:05:11,72 --> 01:05:15,94
a former consultant I asked why was the
1st really successful how do we know the

702
01:05:15,95 --> 01:05:21,69
2nd the other one would be I think in terms
of the what I seen as voluntary and for

703
01:05:21,70 --> 01:05:26,66
friends of grandeur of the park and working
on the advisory board for the Parks and

704
01:05:26,67 --> 01:05:30,78
Rec the partment are 3 things I think can
give us confidence that we will get the

705
01:05:30,79 --> 01:05:32,53
benefit we're looking for what is

706
01:05:32,54 --> 01:05:38,06
a see very capable leadership in the park
apartment I see people with experience

707
01:05:38,92 --> 01:05:43,53
with commitment with the training the
education to know what to do when the money

708
01:05:43,54 --> 01:05:50,04
is available. In terms of that's the
leadership I see quality staff I see people

709
01:05:50,05 --> 01:05:56,98
who are enthusiastic committed. Really
enjoy what they're doing and I want to see

710
01:05:56,99 --> 01:06:02,36
the money used in the best possible way
Thirdly I see what I was called good

711
01:06:02,37 --> 01:06:07,45
business processes I see people planning I
see people executing I see people doing

712
01:06:07,46 --> 01:06:11,44
what they have to do and following through
with the commitments that they have made

713
01:06:11,56 --> 01:06:16,90
which is what makes I think can give us
very high confidence that if we get the

714
01:06:16,91 --> 01:06:21,24
money the money money will be used
effectively thank you thank you Mr Johnston

715
01:06:23,18 --> 01:06:30,08
turning out to be nice public hearing. OK

716
01:06:30,50 --> 01:06:33,68
all right if they're known for their
comments on the parks Milledge then we will

717
01:06:33,69 --> 01:06:37,49
wrap up the clothes that public hearing
and we will move on to general public

718
01:06:37,50 --> 01:06:41,46
comments and I want to remind you that you
do have up to 3 minutes you do not have

719
01:06:41,47 --> 01:06:46,86
to use all 3 minutes but you are welcome
to come up and speak on any other issue

720
01:06:46,87 --> 01:06:48,34
that is on your heart or mind.

721
01:06:58,82 --> 01:07:03,88
Good evening my name is Bonnie Burke I
live in the city of Grand Rapids I'm

722
01:07:03,89 --> 01:07:08,26
a volunteer with empower the citizens
and currently getting signatures for 2

723
01:07:08,27 --> 01:07:14,59
proposals that hopefully will go on the
2020 ballot. It was not my intent to be

724
01:07:14,60 --> 01:07:21,10
here this evening for the past month I've
spent. My evenings going door to door

725
01:07:21,37 --> 01:07:21,70
using

726
01:07:21,71 --> 01:07:28,41
a registered voter list asking
for support for voters. From

727
01:07:28,42 --> 01:07:34,13
voters for moving our elections from
the even years and not to allow

728
01:07:34,14 --> 01:07:40,11
a victory in an August primary we think
voters should vote on these proposals in

729
01:07:40,12 --> 01:07:46,12
2020 but something happened tonight at 5
o'clock it changed my mind about coming

730
01:07:46,13 --> 01:07:51,57
here. And I need to share
that with you. I was at

731
01:07:51,58 --> 01:07:57,35
a local grocery store. And I walked in
and I was wearing this shirt I wear it

732
01:07:57,36 --> 01:08:00,03
everywhere I go these days and there was

733
01:08:00,04 --> 01:08:04,81
a person stocking the shelves in there and
he looked me in the eye and said I like

734
01:08:04,82 --> 01:08:10,57
your shirt it makes sense I often wondered
why Grand Rapids Alexa Fishel is and I

735
01:08:10,58 --> 01:08:15,50
do years when voter turnout is low and
there's very little on the ballot and it

736
01:08:15,51 --> 01:08:19,16
probably costs a lot to hold those
elections and I do years what

737
01:08:19,20 --> 01:08:25,59
a waste. I looked at him and I said Have
I missed you on our committee yes sound

738
01:08:25,60 --> 01:08:31,05
just like the impala the citizens we
started going door to door 4 weeks ago and

739
01:08:31,06 --> 01:08:36,36
that's exactly what we are petitioning
for so I told him about the drive and he

740
01:08:36,37 --> 01:08:41,89
said it was a great idea and felt it was
necessary to take this to the voters he's

741
01:08:41,90 --> 01:08:48,48
a Grand Rapids registered voter and he is
going to sign both petitions so I asked

742
01:08:48,49 --> 01:08:52,94
him what it was the cost if he knew to hold
an election he said he didn't know but

743
01:08:52,95 --> 01:08:53,40
it was probably

744
01:08:53,41 --> 01:08:58,82
a ton of money about $100000.00 and I told
him it was more like 100. $80000.00 per

745
01:08:58,83 --> 01:09:03,05
election or about 360004 a primary and

746
01:09:03,06 --> 01:09:07,90
a general election in an off year he was
amazed and he said oh my gosh we could

747
01:09:07,91 --> 01:09:12,13
hire police officers with that money we
could fill potholes we could help people to

748
01:09:12,14 --> 01:09:17,72
find affordable housing we could improve
city parks and the list goes on and on so

749
01:09:17,73 --> 01:09:21,21
that is why I knew I had to come here
tonight because it's exactly what I was

750
01:09:21,22 --> 01:09:27,48
thinking let's put those savings to good
use so if you want to move forward with

751
01:09:27,49 --> 01:09:30,71
your blue ribbon commission that's fine
but we're moving forward gathering

752
01:09:30,72 --> 01:09:35,42
signatures because we're hoping to save
taxpayers' money to end voter suppression

753
01:09:35,43 --> 01:09:40,89
and to have greater voter turnout if you
have 6 commissioners or 60 it doesn't

754
01:09:40,90 --> 01:09:45,72
really matter if people don't vote so I
urge anyone here in the audience tonight

755
01:09:46,16 --> 01:09:46,35
who is

756
01:09:46,36 --> 01:09:51,67
a registered voter living in Grand Rapids
please stop by support our proposals sign

757
01:09:51,68 --> 01:09:55,34
your petitions and let the commission know
that you think this is the right thing

758
01:09:55,35 --> 01:09:57,48
to do thank you so much he was for.

759
01:10:05,19 --> 01:10:11,81
Me. I came my name is Donna Norman
you know you're very familiar with

760
01:10:11,82 --> 01:10:18,40
me advocating for housing tonight I
came to discuss myself. I have to

761
01:10:18,41 --> 01:10:21,22
relocate I've been where
I've been for 3 and

762
01:10:21,23 --> 01:10:25,82
a half years prior to that I was
somewhere in Burton heights for 3 and

763
01:10:25,83 --> 01:10:31,18
a half years they sold the house and
prior to that I live somewhere for 3 and

764
01:10:31,19 --> 01:10:32,40
a half years there was

765
01:10:32,41 --> 01:10:39,34
a housing market crash and prior to
that housing made me move because

766
01:10:39,35 --> 01:10:45,37
my family became bigger. I was listening
to what the director of family are rich

767
01:10:45,38 --> 01:10:51,30
said I did take seeking safety I think I
need to take it again and this is causing

768
01:10:51,31 --> 01:10:57,05
trauma for me and for my family and I don't
understand how people can use the word

769
01:10:57,06 --> 01:11:02,65
community and come up here and not be
familiar with their community not be familiar

770
01:11:02,70 --> 01:11:07,71
with what's going on around them I want to
learn about the Parks and Rec spot I can

771
01:11:07,72 --> 01:11:12,56
enjoy and I'm working I want to learn about
what you're doing down here but I can't

772
01:11:13,06 --> 01:11:16,35
you know I'm trying to survive and trying
to help myself and help my community at

773
01:11:16,36 --> 01:11:21,08
the same time and I have all this responsibility
and it's very overwhelming and for

774
01:11:21,09 --> 01:11:25,07
the 1st time I'm OS I don't know what to
do and I'm like maybe maybe I need to go

775
01:11:25,84 --> 01:11:30,38
take counseling because you can't possibly
have your hand in everything because

776
01:11:30,46 --> 01:11:34,76
spontaneously you guys do things and it's
hard to have your hand in everything

777
01:11:35,28 --> 01:11:36,56
paramount to say if you're for

778
01:11:36,57 --> 01:11:41,74
a community why don't you sit and you
asking get some data together and find out

779
01:11:41,75 --> 01:11:45,90
how many school age children are still
homeless how many people currently are

780
01:11:45,91 --> 01:11:51,46
living in their their car how many people
have disabilities and terminal illnesses

781
01:11:51,47 --> 01:11:56,45
that are homeless these are the things
that affect our community and when they

782
01:11:56,46 --> 01:12:03,44
affect our community it hurts it causes
trauma and this in turn this pain that

783
01:12:03,45 --> 01:12:09,57
it's overload. And if I'm not healthy and
balanced I can be healthy for my children

784
01:12:09,70 --> 01:12:14,52
like so many other parents I'm not healthy
right now I'm not balance because once

785
01:12:14,53 --> 01:12:20,05
again I'm in the same plight I've been
fighting for it's hard to come up here and

786
01:12:20,06 --> 01:12:26,37
not break it's hard to come up here and
continue fighting when you have had much of

787
01:12:26,38 --> 01:12:31,58
a sport and anything to fight for something
in my spirit says keep calling it

788
01:12:31,59 --> 01:12:36,55
a work out eventually whether it's one
day one week 2 years 2 days it doesn't

789
01:12:36,56 --> 01:12:41,95
matter my spear is his keep going when
something good has to come out this even if

790
01:12:42,03 --> 01:12:47,13
you're want to consult with me something
has to come out of this and it all leads

791
01:12:47,14 --> 01:12:53,15
back to pain and trauma listen to what
this lady says she has some I'm going to

792
01:12:53,16 --> 01:12:58,46
validate what she says and when you have
this trauma it creates for us not to be

793
01:12:58,47 --> 01:13:03,37
able to pay attention to our children so I
mean to Maggie and discuss that more in

794
01:13:03,38 --> 01:13:05,69
the future thank you thank you Ms.

795
01:13:15,19 --> 01:13:21,94
Once again on. This and I was one of
the old. Friends in the park I hope

796
01:13:21,95 --> 01:13:26,33
some are still here because Thursday
of this week there is going to be

797
01:13:26,34 --> 01:13:33,33
a programmer part were gripers
for his part of the program. Or

798
01:13:33,83 --> 01:13:40,74
her. Back to my regular program
or cleaning up the city I have

799
01:13:41,64 --> 01:13:47,29
growing to several county and state agencies
about some of the pollution that is

800
01:13:47,33 --> 01:13:53,07
created by trash on our city streets what
brought me to this was after the range

801
01:13:53,37 --> 01:13:58,44
here about 3 or 4 weeks ago I went to
the edge of the ground or next them are

802
01:13:58,45 --> 01:14:04,49
apartment. Trash and the garbage that was
in the river that was washed off our city

803
01:14:04,50 --> 01:14:11,17
streets through the storm drain system
where one man's. What people don't realize

804
01:14:11,32 --> 01:14:14,59
is that when that trash is
under street it goes down

805
01:14:14,60 --> 01:14:18,76
a storm surge the storm surges go underground
river Grande River goes into Lake

806
01:14:18,77 --> 01:14:22,18
Michigan where is our city water
come from Lake Michigan just

807
01:14:22,19 --> 01:14:26,85
a few miles down from the Grand River so
what they're doing is they're not only

808
01:14:27,34 --> 01:14:31,28
polluting in the water system they're
polluted their own bodies because some of

809
01:14:31,29 --> 01:14:36,29
those contaminants cannot be removed
through water treatment plants and these

810
01:14:36,30 --> 01:14:40,60
people have to learn to stop throwing
their trash on the street and like I said

811
01:14:40,61 --> 01:14:47,32
during earlier discussion that I carry these
plastic bags around and I do walk the

812
01:14:47,33 --> 01:14:53,92
walk and I like to do that and these
different state agencies I know

813
01:14:54,18 --> 01:14:57,33
were where I shared with them and
what they shared with me I became

814
01:14:57,44 --> 01:15:03,57
a lot more educated. And more intense and
cleaning up our city and getting the

815
01:15:03,58 --> 01:15:07,30
trash from our city street
thank you thank you Mr Davis.

816
01:15:23,10 --> 01:15:28,99
Good evening city officials it's
in the manner to be here today

817
01:15:30,86 --> 01:15:31,04
I'm

818
01:15:31,05 --> 01:15:38,55
a lifelong resident. And I'm one in
Grand Rapids the biggest critics

819
01:15:38,63 --> 01:15:45,39
good name bad and to have lived
to see. What Graham represents

820
01:15:45,40 --> 01:15:51,75
done in this last year or 2 with the city
commissioner the city manager I'm sorry

821
01:15:51,76 --> 01:15:58,28
sir. Police Chief Payne. I'm speaking for

822
01:15:59,22 --> 01:16:06,17
decades of protests people that have
fought for the rights of every citizen of

823
01:16:06,18 --> 01:16:12,76
Graham Brad Pitt's disagree I
commend all of you my mother was

824
01:16:12,77 --> 01:16:17,10
a public servant. And I
knew what it was like to be

825
01:16:17,11 --> 01:16:23,78
a minority. Trying to do the right
thing for us and then we got our own

826
01:16:23,79 --> 01:16:29,60
people talking about us and different
people not understanding how hard it is to

827
01:16:29,61 --> 01:16:36,42
make change but maybe problem our
community Graham raps the whole Abram

828
01:16:36,43 --> 01:16:43,35
rap that's. Thank you thank you
sir we didn't get your name so.

829
01:16:44,95 --> 01:16:45,83
Thank you Mr Sam.

830
01:17:06,77 --> 01:17:13,65
Hello Russ Olmstead Westside Hello
Madam President I'm. Sorry I just

831
01:17:13,66 --> 01:17:18,26
have to say it. I wanted to say

832
01:17:18,27 --> 01:17:22,89
a couple things 1st of all really really
really really really really enjoyed the

833
01:17:22,93 --> 01:17:29,40
presentation from Cure Violence this morning
I thought it was fantastic I love data

834
01:17:29,48 --> 01:17:33,93
I love research so I think that some of
the things that were presented there were

835
01:17:33,97 --> 01:17:38,89
were fantastic and I hope I look forward
to to hearing how this will be followed up

836
01:17:39,57 --> 01:17:46,35
by the city. On that no data research. Be

837
01:17:46,76 --> 01:17:50,49
on the agenda this evening this is splendid
rules to bring on the collectively

838
01:17:50,50 --> 01:17:55,11
bargained agreement between the police
unions in the future I would as

839
01:17:55,12 --> 01:17:59,60
a citizen I would very much like the
opportunity and I'm sure other people would as

840
01:17:59,61 --> 01:18:06,39
well as community members to
be able to. Have some sort of

841
01:18:06,76 --> 01:18:07,84
ability to be

842
01:18:07,85 --> 01:18:14,34
a part of this process. To have some sort
of representation in the room elected

843
01:18:14,35 --> 01:18:20,97
representation in the room as these.
Contracts are negotiated I think for

844
01:18:20,98 --> 01:18:27,78
transparency for for accountability for
public interests to be represented I

845
01:18:27,79 --> 01:18:32,30
think would would all of those things
I think would be fantastic from

846
01:18:32,31 --> 01:18:36,50
a union family absolutely
pro union but i also from

847
01:18:36,51 --> 01:18:40,69
a community perspective have to balance
that to where there needs to in my opinion

848
01:18:40,70 --> 01:18:45,62
needs to be some sort of. I would like to
see some sort of public representation

849
01:18:45,63 --> 01:18:50,87
there. In the future and. I think that's

850
01:18:50,88 --> 01:18:55,78
a thank you oh congratulations
chief paint Thank you

851
01:19:01,15 --> 01:19:04,58
good morning or good morning
sorry Good evening it's been

852
01:19:04,59 --> 01:19:10,47
a long day. Rob Metzger I'm from he's
grown up as Michigan against grabbing 312

853
01:19:10,48 --> 01:19:16,28
prospect ne. The last time I was here I
shared with you some of my travels and

854
01:19:16,29 --> 01:19:22,77
travel ations over the last 2 decades
and. So that you can understand the.

855
01:19:24,14 --> 01:19:29,82
Relative. I guess relative positioning of
the 2 trees I shared with you that was

856
01:19:29,83 --> 01:19:36,24
the easiest item my list of fix so that
was why I shared it and it was the only

857
01:19:36,25 --> 01:19:37,42
thing that we actually got to

858
01:19:37,43 --> 01:19:41,90
a resolution so obviously I've still been
dealing with this zoning issues that were

859
01:19:41,95 --> 01:19:48,08
mistakenly done is far is 350 prospects
for 350 Michigan Avenue. For

860
01:19:48,84 --> 01:19:50,43
at the time Brian De Vries of J.

861
01:19:50,44 --> 01:19:55,00
Pick development but what you don't see
when those things don't work is the

862
01:19:55,01 --> 01:20:00,69
personal cost to people because in my
case that's Ben I've been physically

863
01:20:00,70 --> 01:20:07,59
assaulted at least 12 times I've been
assaulted dozens of times and it wasn't

864
01:20:07,60 --> 01:20:12,54
just with the red geranium restaurant and
cooks who are high or drunk they moved

865
01:20:12,55 --> 01:20:19,30
out I was actually assaulted twice last
year again on my own property so it may

866
01:20:19,31 --> 01:20:22,81
seem small I know that I've
heard the commission joke

867
01:20:22,82 --> 01:20:28,57
a lot about parking tickets
but when there is no. Foot.

868
01:20:29,63 --> 01:20:35,15
On what goes on people just do whatever
they want to do weeks ago I had my dog

869
01:20:35,20 --> 01:20:40,79
almost hit in my parking lot for the 2nd
time in 3 years and in regards to parking

870
01:20:41,39 --> 01:20:44,00
and parking enforcement. There was

871
01:20:44,01 --> 01:20:48,32
a van that was 3 days 20 feet off of
Michigan no parking so I finally decided I

872
01:20:48,33 --> 01:20:51,69
thought I would just follow around some
meter people to see how things work because

873
01:20:51,70 --> 01:20:56,09
I don't know we all just assume it gets
taken care of and what I learned was in my

874
01:20:56,10 --> 01:21:01,21
case that the folks travel up across the
street which is east west they travel at

875
01:21:01,22 --> 01:21:06,39
Crescent and go straight back down again I
watched it 3 times to do any fanning out

876
01:21:06,40 --> 01:21:09,56
at all which is why they missed the vehicles
that I've been looking at going what

877
01:21:09,57 --> 01:21:14,46
is that they're doing it's really easy
to just look at that is being lazy but

878
01:21:14,47 --> 01:21:14,63
there's

879
01:21:14,64 --> 01:21:19,18
a method to the madness because then inquired
about how they go about what they do

880
01:21:19,39 --> 01:21:24,75
and how they got the segues they look really
hip and they look cool and I'm sure it

881
01:21:24,76 --> 01:21:30,47
was done to make people more efficient but
what happened is you made them. Lazy and

882
01:21:30,48 --> 01:21:36,25
ineffective because they're worried about
their battery dying on their Segway so

883
01:21:36,26 --> 01:21:40,71
they don't want to have to drag it back
down to where ever it gets parked so it's

884
01:21:40,72 --> 01:21:40,82
not

885
01:21:40,83 --> 01:21:44,07
a fanning out they're trying to limit how
much they drive time on those so they don't

886
01:21:44,22 --> 01:21:47,73
have to drag it back down so they end up
not covering the ground they used to and I

887
01:21:47,74 --> 01:21:50,88
don't know maybe we need to go back to what
they did in the old days which is what

888
01:21:50,92 --> 01:21:53,48
watch tours are guards
where they had to sign

889
01:21:53,49 --> 01:21:57,35
a key maybe you could put it on the utility
pole my time's almost up so we'll just

890
01:21:57,36 --> 01:21:59,98
leave it right there
but. Not everything is

891
01:21:59,99 --> 01:22:03,62
a solution that seems to
be the solution thank you.

892
01:22:11,55 --> 01:22:13,40
Oh. That's all.

893
01:22:18,35 --> 01:22:25,14
Of its area. It's very very

894
01:22:25,38 --> 01:22:31,73
very happy. City Manager So if he's

895
01:22:31,77 --> 01:22:36,61
playing. I've been here for a year and you
could actually like see the change in

896
01:22:36,62 --> 01:22:42,91
a community. Just now and just Grand
Rapids but outside in wars of ground

897
01:22:43,58 --> 01:22:49,56
so like graduation and that. Parking is
talk about that so let's go talk about my

898
01:22:49,57 --> 01:22:53,87
morning I sprint so you Amir's that you
just get that little black being that is

899
01:22:53,98 --> 01:22:57,28
paid well see I work at
their arena so I had

900
01:22:57,29 --> 01:23:03,39
a bad work at 7 am which I had to be there
10 minutes early when I couldn't pay for

901
01:23:03,43 --> 01:23:10,28
my parking because the meter
said from 6 pm to 8 am It's free

902
01:23:10,77 --> 01:23:16,65
which I couldn't pay I had it time due to
that So how do I fix that I could go talk

903
01:23:16,66 --> 01:23:23,63
to and what department when I was OK thank
you as I went to great thanks I'm. Glad

904
01:23:23,64 --> 01:23:29,02
you came to ask. OK I think it's wraps up
the eat meat and thank you all for your

905
01:23:29,03 --> 01:23:34,54
public comment so close that hearing
and commissioners yesterday.

906
01:23:36,09 --> 01:23:42,98
On my left tonight with
Commissioner moody. I

907
01:23:42,99 --> 01:23:45,32
think everybody for
coming out and spending

908
01:23:45,33 --> 01:23:48,40
a very good day and everything we talked
about has been very important and I

909
01:23:48,66 --> 01:23:55,46
appreciate all of your comments and
thank you thank you Mr Jones thank you

910
01:23:55,47 --> 01:24:00,26
Madam President I do also want to think
folks for coming out and for those who

911
01:24:00,27 --> 01:24:04,20
spoke well as those who were just
present also want to go again in

912
01:24:04,21 --> 01:24:09,33
a moment to congratulate our new police
chief Chief Eric Payne regulations.

913
01:24:13,71 --> 01:24:20,20
Sure yes thanks to everyone who came out
in force their concerns and ideas and

914
01:24:20,21 --> 01:24:26,78
suggestions and I'd just like to welcome
chief Payne into his new role as well as

915
01:24:27,41 --> 01:24:33,36
Paulo Congratulations on your new role as
well and I'd like to see as growing our

916
01:24:33,37 --> 01:24:40,04
own so. Welcome aboard into
this new capacity great and I

917
01:24:40,05 --> 01:24:43,65
2nd that it's so exciting to
see people who we've known for

918
01:24:43,66 --> 01:24:47,82
a long time step into positions of leadership
so congratulations to you both and

919
01:24:47,83 --> 01:24:49,91
thank you all for coming
tonight we are joined.